Unbound Shadow

Light engulfed everything. Kaelin barely had time to shield his eyes before the void shattered around him.

Kaelin stumbled back, breath heavy. The mist surrounding them faded, and reality snapped into place. Leloid was free.

Leloid groaned, his body tilting forward. His magic pulsed wildly around him, shadows, dark, fluid, yet under his control. Kaelin reached out. "Leloid, are you—"

Before he could finish, a cold, familiar voice cut through the air. "Touching reunion," Lyrex said dubiously stepping from the shadows. "But I can't let you leave just yet."

Kaelin clenched his fists, already summoning his magic. Eira moved beside him, staff ready. Leloid, however, took a slow breath and lifted his head.

"I'll handle this," Leloid said, his voice steady, teeth gritted in rage towards her uncalled control over him.

Kaelin hesitated, but the look in Leloid's eyes told him everything. Leloid was in control now.

Lyrex smirked. "Oh? Finally got your leash off? Let's see if you're actually worth anything."

She flicked her wrist, and spears of dark energy shot toward them. Kaelin moved to counter, but Leloid was faster. Shadows rippled from his fingertips, twisting into a massive wall of darkness that swallowed the attack whole.

Lyrex smirk widened, She lunged, moving unnaturally fast. Leloid met her head-on, their magic clashing midair. Layers of darkness erupted from him, shifting and reshaping into jagged weapons, striking with precision. Lyrex dodged, but only barely.

Kaelin and Eira stepped back, letting Leloid take control. He weaved through Lyrex's attacks with ease, his movements fluid, his magic an extension of himself. Every strike he landed forced her back, his power growing more refined with each passing moment. This was the Leloid Kaelin remembered.

Lyrex twirled a dagger between her fingers, eyes narrowing. "You're getting comfortable. Dangerous mistake."

She blurred forward, unleashing a barrage of slashes, but Leloid countered with a swirl of shadows, forming an armored gauntlet around his arm to block off her strikes. His control was effortless, his counters precise.

Then, in one swift movement, he twisted the shadows around her feet and yanked. Lyrex barely managed to flip backward, avoiding being completely ensnared, but her expression turned serious.

"Tsk. Not bad. Not bad at all," she admitted, shaking out her wrist. "But tell me, Leloid... how long do you think you can keep this up?"

Kaelin's pulse quickened. Something was wrong.

Lyrex grinned.

"Run along now. You're exactly where we want you."

The air grew heavy. A deep, pulsing energy surrounded them. The longer they stayed, the more dangerous it became. Kaelin exchanged glances with Eira, they had to leave.

Leloid nodded, his magic forming a swirling mat of shadows beneath them. "I'll cover our escape."

As they disappeared into the void, Lyrex stood alone, watching. Smirking.

Everything was going according to plan.